17 kommentarer:

That is disgusting and that is the problem with Colombia(and Venezuela). Women/Girls have been viewed as an object, a sexual object and they are only that for the Colombian men (no all of them obliviously since your husband seems to be different)I personally would not date a Colombian man...oh no!. That will be the last thing I do in my life. I currently live in the US and I have met several Colombian men. The last Colombian that I met (I do not date them) in my workplace, he said something like this to me: 'You know I should tell your husband that if he gives me $2,000, I would transform you completely. I will buy tight clothes, short dresses, make up, high heals, pantyhose etc for you'. And I was thinking to myself...I am not surprised, he is Colombian!!. This guy was a man who was married to a Colombian woman who had so many surgeries that nothing look natural....a 50's something woman trying to look in her 20's!

Another Colombian guy that I met in another job, offered himself to help me with my closet if I was willing to have sex with him (yes, he saw me as a sexual object and that was it....no the professional woman that I am!) And again, I said to myself, yes he is Colombian!!...

And I have other tales to share about Colombian men.....disgusting tales...and I have met them in the US and you will think that they will learn that women are not objects to please them.

So yes, Colombian society is sick in several ways...specially in how they view women/girls. No wonder than that country is one of countries with more cosmetic surgeries....and the country that sells jeans that lift women's butt. And use acid to disfigure women' faces....beauty is a blessing and a curse in that sick country.Beautiful country indeed, but as a woman I would not like to live there!!

You have really had some bad luck with the Colombian men you've met lately! Of course they do exist, but I wouldn't say that they are the general rule to that extreme. Most people I have in my circles are nothing close to that. Of course that's a very specific sector of society - educated, middle-class, urban people. But so is the traqueto-sector where boob and butt plastic surgery is norm.

Of course there are huge gender inequality issues in Colombia, but so are there in many countries, although they take different forms. But for example the US seems like the home country of child beauty pageants...

I have not met those Colombian men lately. I have met them throughout my working years. And these Colombian men have been 'educated', middle class, urban people. And I am not saying that all of the Colombian men are like but it needs to be a major change in the way they are raised so that whole society change for the better.

And I will copy and paste what I said in the other blog:I stand by my statement in Colombialiv blog. I would not like to be a woman in Colombia. And you do not experience what Colombian’ women have to deal with because like you stated you are a stranger (a foreigner…and probably taller than a lot of colombian men), economically independent etc.But the point is that you are still a foreigner. I have never been to Colombia but unfortunately, I have experienced the macho Colombian man in the US. The fact is that I am a latin woman from Ecuador(black hair/brown skin etc) therefore they think that I am an easy target. I am a computer professional, working as an analyst in an American company. I have my own money, own my apartment in NYC but I am latin and I meet those professional Colombians ‘men’ in the workplace. You do not need to encourage them in any way to get those sleazy propositions. They just know you are latin and you are a fair game. They will not do that to an American woman because they will be facing a major risk. Americans have laws against sexual harassment.To be honest, I was surprised the first time it happened but then I am latin and that is the culture of most Latin countries. But, since I am economically independent, I do not have to put up with such disgusting behavior….I usually laugh my head off when I have to deal with those ‘men’ (unless they go too far then I do not hesitate to denounce them) and then I have to say to myself…they are Colombians, what do you expect?

And you are probably right, that the US may be the home country of child beauty pageants but since I find them disgusting, I do not follow any of that stuff. My point was that there is so much worse gender inequality in South America, this aspect of society makes it worse and continues to perpetuate the idea that woman/children are sexual objects. And I know that there are many other countries that have worse issue with gender inequality

But to me, Colombia seem to have it worse in Latin America: acid attacks, their continued armed conflict which affect women more(rapes), domestic violence etc.

Of course there are differences (in a lot of ways) between being latina and being a white European in Colombia. And you're right, the armed conflict definitely adds a whole other dimension of horrible to the whole gender-issue. No doubt.

But, I still think that although in general terms Sweden is better off than Colombia when it comes to gender equality issues, it is not so black and white. There are situations or spheres where I prefer to be a woman in Colombia than in Sweden, because Sweden is definitely not better every time.

To add a wrinkle to all this. I prefer to be a woman, a brown latina in the US and no in Sweden. It appears that it is impossible for Swedish business men to get over the idea that Latinas are professionals as well.And I would like to know in what situations and spheres you prefer to be a woman in Colombia..just curious. As long as you are white European, it will always be easier (no completely) for you in Latin America. You must already know that we, all, latinos think that white is better. As you know we were conquered by spaniards so we have been brainwashed to believe that white is better unfortunately.

By the way, I love reading your blog. You see Latin America as I see it now that I have been abroad for so long (28 + year in the US). When I lived in Ecuador, I saw all that but I did not question it (then again I was a child then) but now I do. I will miss reading about your experiences in Colombia but we will be living in the same country in the near future.Personally, I am moving there but no as happy and hopeful as you!. NYC will always be home for me!

I'm not so sure that the issue Swedish business men vs latina professional is so much of a gender-issue, I think that it is rather a racist-issue. Not that that is any better, but I think the problem lies in you being a foreigner rather than you being a woman (or no, of course the real problem lies in them being idiots). Which also really sucks.

I really hope anyway that once you move to Sweden it will surpass your expectations!